Hoop Dreams

Two ordinary inner-city Chicago kids dare to reach for the impossible—professional basketball glory—in this epic chronicle of hope and faith. Filmed over a five-year period, Hoop Dreams, by Steve James, Frederick Marx, and Peter Gilbert, follows young Arthur Agee and William Gates and their families as the boys navigate the complex, competitive world of scholastic athletics while dealing with the intense pressures of their home lives and neighborhoods. This revelatory film continues to educate and inspire viewers, and it is widely considered one of the great works of American nonfiction cinema.

Film Info

Special Features

New high-definition digital restoration, created through a collaboration between the Academy Film Archive, the Sundance Film Institute, and the UCLA Film & Television Archive, with 4.0 surround DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack on the Blu-ray

Two audio commentaries: one with filmmakers Steve James, Frederick Marx, and Peter Gilbert, and one with the film’s subjects, Arthur Agee and William Gates

Life After “Hoop Dreams,” a new documentary that catches up with Agee, Gates, and their families

Additional scenes

Collection of excerpts from Siskel & Ebert tracking the acclaim for Hoop Dreams

Original 1994 music video for the film’s theme song

Trailers

PLUS: Essays by author John Edgar Wideman and filmmaker and critic Robert Greene

Purchase Options

Digital Options

Special Features

New high-definition digital restoration, created through a collaboration between the Academy Film Archive, the Sundance Film Institute, and the UCLA Film & Television Archive, with 4.0 surround DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack on the Blu-ray

Two audio commentaries: one with filmmakers Steve James, Frederick Marx, and Peter Gilbert, and one with the film’s subjects, Arthur Agee and William Gates

Life After “Hoop Dreams,” a new documentary that catches up with Agee, Gates, and their families

Additional scenes

Collection of excerpts from Siskel & Ebert tracking the acclaim for Hoop Dreams

Original 1994 music video for the film’s theme song

Trailers

PLUS: Essays by author John Edgar Wideman and filmmaker and critic Robert Greene

Cast & Credits

Cast

William Gates

Emma Gates

William’s mother

Curtis Gates

William’s brother

Arthur “Man” Agee Jr.

Arthur “Bo” Agee Sr.

Arthur’s father

Sheila Agee

Arthur’s mother

Joe “Sweetie” Agee

Arthur’s brother

Tomika “Tony” Agee

Arthur’s sister

Earl Smith

Independent talent scout

Gene Pingatore

St. Joseph High School head basketball coach

Isiah Thomas

Detroit Pistons basketball player

Sister Marilyn Hopewell

St. Joseph High School guidance counselor

Patricia Wier

President, Encyclopedia Britannica

Marjorie Heard

Marshall High School guidance counselor

Luther Bedford

Marshall High School head basketball coach

Aretha Mitchell

Marshall High School guidance counselor

Jazz Agee

Tomika’s daughter, Arthur’s niece

Shannon Johnson

Arthur’s friend

Catherine Mines

William’s girlfriend

Alicia Mines

William’s daughter

Alvin Bibbs

William’s brother-in-law

Willie Gates

William’s father

James Kelly

Marshall High School teacher

Michael O’Brien

St. Joseph High School director of finance

Dick Vitale

TV sports commentator

Kevin O’Neill

Marquette University head basketball coach

Bobby Knight

Indiana University head basketball coach

Joey Meyer

DePaul University head basketball coach

Frank DuBois

Nike ABCD Camp academic director

Spike Lee

Film director

Bo Ellis

Marquette University assistant basketball coach

Bob Gibbons

Independent talent scout

Dennis Doyle

St. Joseph High School assistant basketball coach

Clarence Webb

Marshall High School science teacher

Stan Wilson

Independent talent scout

Derrick Zinneman

Marshall High School basketball player

Tim Gray

Mineral Area Junior College basketball coach

Credits

Producers

Frederick Marx

Producers

Steve James

Producers

Peter Gilbert

Director

Steve James

Director of photography

Peter Gilbert

Editors

Frederick Marx

Editors

Steve James

Editors

William Haugse

Coproducer

Gordon Quinn

Sound

Adam Singer

Sound

Tom Yore

Music producer

Ben Sidran

Executive producers

Gordon Quinn

Executive producers

Catherine Allan

Postproduction supervisor

Susanne Suffredin

Executive in charge for KTCA

Gerry Richman

KTCA production manager

Emily Stevens

Additional music

Tom Yore

Additional photography

Gordon Quinn

Additional photography

Ed Scott

Additional photography

Sid Lubitsch

Additional photography

Kevin McCarey

Additional photography

Mirko Popadic

Additional photography

Jim Morrissette

Additional photography

Jim Fetterley

Additional sound

Ed Scott

Additional sound

Mirko Popadic

Additional sound

Bill Jenkins

Narrator

Steve James

Technical consultant

Jim Morrissette

Kartemquin online editors

Frederick Marx

Kartemquin online editors

Melissa Sterne

Colorists

Craig Leffel

Colorists

Robert Jung

Colorists

Oscar Oboza Jr.

Postproduction coordinator

Fenell Doremus

Audio mix

Ric Coken

Audio mix

Chuck Rapp

Audio mix

Corey Coken

Audio mix

Bryen Hensley

Audio mix

Margaret M. S. Marvin/Zenith Audio Services

Assistant editors

Fenell Doremus

Assistant editors

Linda Balek

Assistant editors

Sarah Galloway

Assistant editors

Lisa Hubbard

Assistant editors

Jim Fetterley

Assistant editors

Neil Laird

Assistant editors

Lou Anastas

Title design

George Eastman

Title design

Betsy Fil

Research

Laura Hoffman

Research

Bill Siegel

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